With the same timetable as the Race, the afternoon session is the most indicative of the day and of the weekend. After the official appointments with the roockies in FP1, the 20 official riders took to the track. FP2 in Abu Dhabi, at sunset they end with the best time of Max Verstappen, followed by George Russell and Charles Leclerc, who finished in the same position as in the first session. The hierarchies would therefore appear to be Red Bull - Mercedes - Ferrari, in difficulty especially in the final race.
The last weekend of the season, although the world titles have already been assigned, is preparing to give us emotions. There Mercedes invited herself to the victory party, with her first success of the season coming in Brazil with George Russell on the top step of the podium and Lewis Hamilton closing a 1-2 that seemed utopian at the beginning of the season. A couple that has convinced since the announcement of the 2022 line up and that has found confirmation on the track. The last one, right in the FP1 of Abu Dhabi, finished with Mercedes in the lead with both cars.
Ferrari showed that Mexico was an exception in a season of ups and downs, despite also missing out on victory in Brazil. In home Red Bull instead they are not roses and flowers. Last weekend, in Brazil, the RB18 seemed to wear a different dress, a bit like its pilots, uncomfortable, nervous even net of the frictions aroused by the question of orders stable that Max didn't want to give in to. In anticipation of this Red Bull has hammered out a move for 2023, announcing Daniel Ricciardo as third driver. At Red Bull there is also another novelty. In fact, for the first time, we were able to see the helmet cam on the Red Bull drivers, which from next year will be mandatory for all drivers.
Last greetings
The fight for second and fourth place in the constructors' championship, or second place in the drivers' championship, will also be enhanced by tributes to celebrate Sebastian Vettel's last race. In Abu Dhabi we will also see other farewells, or goodbyes, for Mick Schumacher, who will be replaced by Nico Hulkenberg, Nicholas Latifi and Daniel Ricciardo. If Daniel will remain in the paddock as third man at Red Bull, we still don't know what kind of future to expect for Schumacher and Latifi.
Verstappen regains leadership
Since 2014 there has always been only one team to finish FP2 at the top of the standings: Mercedes. Until today. In fact, he took the fastest time Max Verstappen, that compared to the others, in the tops he marked the time with a second set of new softs. In fact, the others always made their attempts on the same set. The closest to Max's time was Russell, 3 tenths behind. In the last 20 minutes, as the temperatures dropped, all the drivers switched to the long run program in which Red Bull always stood out. Reverse situation for Ferrari. “Why are we so slow?” says Leclerc, who fears a final and burning disappointment on a track that has never seen a Red win.
At Ferrari there is still a lot of work to do before qualifying which will start tomorrow at 15:00! To close we leave you i times of FP2.
